AUBURN HILLS -- The addition of Jose Calderon means the Pistons want to push the pace more. The Pistons did just that Friday night in a win over San Antonio, tying their season-high with 119 points.

"This is how we have to play," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "We have to be better defensively, but we have to play an uptempo game. We got to take advantage of the fact that we have a two-headed monster at all times. Whoever gets the outlet, let's go. Kyle (Singler) is a very, very consistent runner. Brandon (Knight) is a very good runner. Jose is a great advance passer. Our bigs can run the floor. It's something we'll learn.

"Even there are times when a team scores, just for us to get the ball inbounded quicker. Our guys are starting to figure it out, especially when you add a new piece like Jose, whose such a willing passer, it becomes contagious.

"We just keep that ball popping on the offensive end. We're not always going to shoot the percentage that we did in the first half, but the key is the quality of shots we take."

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Knight scored 24 points and Greg Monroe had 26 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in the win over San Antonio.

Both like playing at a faster pace and felt the team benefited from it Friday.

"We're a good team and we can work the play, but I think for us, with me and Kyle running the wings, Jose pushing or me pushing, I think we can do a pretty good job of running the floor and getting easy baskets," Knight said. "Then when we can get a big that can run the floor as well in Greg or (Jason Maxiell), get them easy baskets, it all helps us out."

"That's the way we can play to be successful," Monroe said. "I think the more we do it the better we'll get at it. I think the personnel fits that kind of play. That's something I think as games continue, we'll start to do a lot more."

Team supports Drummond

The loss of rookie Andre Drummond to a stress fracture in his back is a huge blow for the Pistons, but the team and coaching staff expect the young big man to keep his head up.

"He's definitely a big part of us, even though he's a first-year player, he helps us out a lot, does a great job on the boards, changing shots in the paint and just being a threat offensively as well. Getting rebounds off the rim and catching lobs, he does a great job all around. He's going to missed by us. I wish him a speedy recovery, but we just have to do our best to play without him."

"He'll be fine," Frank said. "No one wants to get injured. It's one of those things in the course of it that you take it and any sort of negative situation, and you turn it into a positive. There's different things that Andre is going to be able to work to get stronger, and take this time to gain some strength in some different areas and make sure his back gets healed correctly for the long term.

"We're going to miss Andre. ... Andre is a vital, vital part of both our present and future, but that's the name of the game. You move forward, we get him healthy, and you go with who you got."

Monroe's minutes increase

The injury to Drummond likely means more minutes for Monroe.

Monroe played more than 40 minutes Friday for just the third time this season.

"With the game that Greg was having, we were going to ride him as long as we could ride him, it was just a matter of trying to get him a little rest," Frank said. "We kept Greg in there as long as we could."

"I'm expecting to play a lot more because (Drummond's) out," Monroe said. "With him being out, I'm definitely expecting to play more. I don't know exactly what the coach has in store. I'm prepared to play more. If he changes the rotation at all, I'm prepared for that too."

Dave Pemberton covers the Pistons for The Oakland Press. Email him at dave.pemberton@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @drpemberton.